St. Rose Dominican Nurses Demand Justice: Overturn The Fraudulent Vote, We Want Out Of SEIU!

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 11 Feb 2009 - 3:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The National Labor Relations Board will hold a hearing in Las Vegas Tuesday to determine if the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and St. Rose Dominican hospitals violated the rights of registered nurses in a representation election last December. The hearing is at the Alan Bible Federal Bldg., 600 South Las Vegas Blvd.

Last May, a majority of St. Rose RNs voted to get out of SEIU 1107 with a plurality voting to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

A second election held in early December, which ended in a virtual tie, was marred by numerous SEIU and employer abuses, which prevented a free and fair election, charges CNA/NNOC.

Now, the NLRB determined that sufficient evidence exists to hold a hearing to determine whether the rights of St. Rose Dominican RNs were violated.

CNA/NNOC, on behalf of the 1,000 St. Rose RNs, filed 12 charges that SEIU was assisted by the employer:

- Illegally and falsely threatened RNs and other employees that they would lose their pay increases, retroactive pay, and other benefits contained in their contract if they voted to be represented by CNA/NNOC and not SEIU.

- Prevented access to certain areas of the hospital to CNA/NNOC while permitting access to SEIU, and other violations of federal labor law.

If the evidence shows the RNs' rights were violated, the results of the December election will be overturned and a new re-run election will be ordered.

"Many nurses do not trust SEIU because of their record of deceit and close ties to management, yet felt scared that they would lose everything unless they voted for them," says St. Rose RN Carrie Carter. "Despite this undemocratic atmosphere, the two election results show how strongly RNs want representation from a professional RN union."

California Nurses Association

• Additional
• References
• Citations